Pneumatic pumping-engine



(No Model.)

E. A. RIX. V PNEUMATIC PUMPING ENGINE.

Patented June 7, 1898.

Witnessew Inveflr B2 TH INOR IS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITNO WhSHINCvTON D C NITED STATES PATENT Fries,

EDWARD am, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIC PUMPING-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,187, dated June '7, 1898, Application filedduly 16, 1897, Serial No. 644,812. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. RIX, a citi-. zen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Pumping- Engines, of which the following is a specifi cation. V

My invention relates to a motive-engine impelled by compressed air,wherein the degree or range of expansion lowers the temperature of the exhausted air below the freezing-point of water, impeding or obstructing motion un less the air be heated, and especially to pneumatic engines of the compound type employed for pumping water. p

My improvement consists in employing water pumpedby the engine as a means of interheatin g theair on its passage from the first to the second or from the high to the low pressure cylinder and in apparatus therefor.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means ofreheating or interheating the air between the stages of its expansion in compound engines, and thus augmenting its volume and effect and avoiding congelation of moisture or entrained water in the air at the point of final release. To this end I provide apparatus as shown'in the accompanying drawing,which illustrates diagrammatically the application of my invention to a compound pneumatic'iengine.

I am aware that it is common to cool airloctween stages of its compression and to heat it before and during its application and expansion; but the heat thus applied is derived from some extraneous sourcefrom fire or stea1n,for example, in either case causing an expense in proportion to the heat supplied or consumed. I e is derived from water pumped by the com- In my invention this added heat pressed air and under circumstances where the heat extracted from the water causes no loss or expense and may even be desirable by lowering the temperature of the water used.

In the application of compressed air for mo tive purposes, beginning in the first or highpressure cylinder atatemperature of and, for example, at a pressure of ninety pounds per inch and expanding to a pressure of thirtyfive pounds per inch, a temperature of minus 30 is produced. This air if further expanded in a second or low-pressure cylinder produces freezing and obstruction. If, however, this air after expansion in the first cylinder is exposed to a suflicient volume of water with a temperature of the difference in tempera ture being convection is rapid, raising the temperature of the air to that of the water, or approximately so, depending on the volume of Water and the time and intimacy of contact or exposure. If the air thus warmed is applied in a second cylinder and expanded to the atmospheric pressure, the final temperature will be such that no difficulty will pecially required for pumping, the water is usually'much warmer and effective in proportion for interheating the impelling-air.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a pumpingengine of the common type, provided with eylinders 2 and 3 and arranged to operate by means of compressed air. The pump lis also of the usual or any suitable type,the barrel being preferably in two parts 5 and 6, with a plunger 7 packed between the barrels.

Both the motive-engine and thepnmp being of the usual construction and well understooddo not require further'description.

Compressed air is supplied through the pipe 9, and after acting in the initial or high-pressure cylinder 2 passes through the first exhaust-pipe 10 to a chamber or vessel having two sets of adjacent passages, entering at 12, and is diffused-around the tubes 13,1'ises slowly to the outlet at 14 and from there passes through the pipe 15'to the second or low-pressure cylinder 3, and after acting in that cylinder is exhausted through the'pipe .16, into the open air or is conducted to any desirable place. The pump-supply water is drawn through the suction-pipe 17, through the tubes 13, and through the pipe 18, which latter extends to a sump 19 or to a collectingreservoir' of any kind. The heater 11 is filled with tubes 13, that may be smooth or corrugated, arranged in coils or in any manner that will present a large amountof surface and permit a rapid transfer of heat from the water to the air, or the air can be passed through the tubes 13 and the water flow around them if such an arrangement be deemed better adapted to the conditions of any case.

It will be understood that the heater 11 can be served by either the suction or discharge water of the pump, also that the arrangement of the machinery and apparatus is dependent upon the circumstances of erection and use and is varied accordingly. In general the larger the cooling-surface and the longer the air remains in contact with these surfaces the better the result.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention and the manner of constructing and applying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 113 combination with the high and low pressure cylinders of a pneumatic engine, a waterpump driven thereby, and a chamber or vessel provided with two sets of adjacent passages, through one set of which passes the water being pumped, the other set being connected on one side with the exhaust of the high-pressure air-cylinder, and on the other side with the inlet of the low-pressure aircylinder, whereby the temperature of the high-pressure exhaust-air is raised by that of the water being pumped, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. RIX.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. KING, II. SANDERSON. 

